Manufacture of mouthpiece cigarettes



p 1962 T. ROWLANDS 3,052,164

MANUFACTURE OF MOUTHPIECE CIGARETTES Filed Oct. 5, 1959 M INVENTOR Wm n4 A ATTORNEYJ United States Patent This invention concerns improvements in the manufacture of mouthpiece cigarettes.

It is known to provide cigarettes with mouthpieces comprising a tube of stiff paper and containing filter material with the outer end of the tube extending somewhat beyond the outer end of the filter so that the consumer does not contact the filter itself. Such mouthpieces are conveniently termed hollow mouthpieces. It is also known to provide cigarettes with mouthpieces containing two or more portions of dilfering filter materials arranged in tandem, such mouthpieces being known as composite mouthpieces. An object of the invention is to provide a method of making hollow mouthpieces which contain two or more portions of filter material arranged in tandem, and cigarettes comprising such mouthpieces.

The pieces of filter material are commonly termed stubs so a mouthpiece made according to the invention will be a composite hollow mouthpiece containing at least two stubs in tandem.

Various kinds of machinery are available, suitable or adaptable, for making any of the products outlined above, and the present invention is therefore confined to the basic methods, the actual performance of the methods being according to the particular kind of machinery used. Generally speaking stubs and mouthpieces are made by continuous rod methods and mouthpiece cigarettes are made by continuous rod or rolling methods, though some mouthpieces are also rolled. It is also possible to make the various products described herein by inserting some components into tubes.

In the manufacture of these products there are difficulties in mechanically handling such things as stubs or mouthpieces if they are less in length than a certain minimum and the common practice is to feed rod-like material for such components to machines in multiple lengths, that is lengths long enough to be divided into a number of double-length components, and to sub-divide these multiple lengths into double lengths for assembly with suitable pieces of cigarette rod, whereafter the assembled items are again sub-divided to produce separate mouthpiece cigarettes.

The purpose of providing composite mouthpieces is to secure better filtering and the stub nearer the consumers mouth must obviously be of a material which is attractive and acceptable to a consumer, for example, crepe paper. This stub may be termed the outer stub.

The inner stub may be of any kind and thus various chemical or chemically treated stubs which would be quite unacceptable alone may be employed.

In its broadest aspect the invention comprises a method of making a composite hollow mouthpiece as defined above comprising the following steps:

(1) Enclosing a number of groups of components each group comprising a double-length or center inner filter abutted at each end by a single-length outer filter in a paper tube in which the neighbouring outer filters are spaced apart and cutting the rod (e.g. a continuous rod) thus formed into suitable lengths for machine feeding by bisecting double-length inner filters to provide singlelength inner filters at each end of said suitable lengths, e.g. multipledength rods.

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(2) Sub-dividing such suitable lengths to provide double-length composite hollow mouthpieces.

The time at which step 2 takes place is a matter of expediency. A double-length composite hollow mouthpiece is practically long enough for feeding from a hopper. On the other hand if a continuous rod is to be cut into such short lengths the cut-off of the machine has a great deal of work to do and collection of short pieces may be difficult. In most cases therefore it is better to cut fairly long multiple-length rods and sub-divide them when feeding from a hopper.

The components referred to in step 1 may be made by two different methods, .as recited later, but in either method the tube enclosing the single-length outer stubs must be of stiff paper, or thin card, because the product is eventually cut through by bisecting .the spaces to provide the desired hollow portion of the mouthpiece.

Further according to the invention there is provided a method of making a composite hollow mouthpiece as defined above comprising the following steps:

(1) Enclosing a number of double-length inner stubs alternately with double-length outer stubs in abutting relationship in a paper tube, cutting the resulting rod (e.g. a continuous rod) thus formed into suitable lengths for machine feeding by bisecting double-length inner filters to provide single-length inner filters at each end of said suitable lengths (e.g. multiple-length rods).

(2) Sub-dividing such suitable lengths to provide pieces consisting of two single-length outer filters with a doublelength inner filter between and abutting them, and enclosing said pieces in a tube of stiff paper and spaced apart by twice the distance by which the tube is to extend beyond the outer end of the stub in the finished cigarette and dividing the rod thus for-med (eg. a continuous rod) into suitable lengths for machine feeding by cutting through double-length inner stubs to bi-sect them and provide single-length outer stubs at each end of such suitable lengths (e.g. multiple-length rods).

(3) Sub-dividing said suitable lengths to provide double-length composite hollow mouthpieces.

Similar remarks apply to step 3 as to step 2 of the method first recited and as set out in the first paragraph following said step 2.

Further according to the invention there is provided a preferred method of making a composite hollow mouthpiece as defined above comprising the following steps:

(1) Enclosing a number of double-length outer stubs in a tube of stiff paper and spaced apart by twice the distance by which the tube is to extend beyond the outer end of the .outer stub in the finished cigarette and cutting the rod (e.g. a continuous rod) thus formed into suitable lengths for machine feeding by bisecting double-length stubs to provide single-length stubs at each end of such I, suitable lengths (e.g. multiple-length rods).

(2) Sub-dividing each said length by bisecting any remaining double-length outer stubs to produce doublelength hollow mouthpieces having a single-length stub at each end.

(3) Assembling such double-length hollow mouthpieces with double-length inner stubs to form a composite rod joined by outer wrapping material such as a continuous paper wrapper to form, for example, a continuous rod.

(4) Dividing said composite rod to produce multiplelength rods suitable for feeding to a machine, by bisecting two double-length inner stubs to provide single-length inner stubs at the ends of such multiple-length rods.

(5) Sub-dividing each multiple-length by bisecting any remaining double-length inner stubs to produce double double-length composite hollow mouthpieces.

As regards step 2 the remarks in the first paragraph 3 following step 2 in the method first recited equally apply here and similarly step above can take place simultaneously with step 4, or during feeding to a machine for making mouthpiece cigarettes.

Further the invention comprises a method of making mouthpiece cigarettes having composite hollow mouthpieces, comprising the following steps:

(1) Feeding the said multiple-length rods produced by any of the foregoing methods to an assembly machine and dividing them to produce double-length composite hollow mouthpieces or, alternatively, feeding the doublelength composite hollow mouthpieces to said machine.

(2) Assembling such double-length composite mouthpieces with pieces of cigarette rod to form a composite mouthpiece cigarette rod and joining up the components by wrapping material (e.g. cork tip material) around them and securing the wrapping material to unite the components and thereafter severing the composite rod by bisecting the double-length composite mouthpieces and, where necessary, the pieces of cigarette rod.

Regarding step 2, if assembly is done by rolling, only the mouthpiece part needs bisecting but if a continuous rod is made then successive cuts take place at the mouthpiece part and in the middle of a double-length piece of cigarette rod.

The methods recited above cater for normal production methods where the last operation is the division of a double-length mouthpiece into two single mouthpieces after mouthpieces material has been joined to cigarette rod material but the methods of making the mouthpieces can obviously include a further step of sub-dividing a double-length mouthpiece for those cases where mouthpieces are pushed into paper tubes which are filled with tobacco at some convenient stage in the manufacture.

Two ways of carrying the invention into effect will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURES 1 to 5 show one way and FIG- URES 6 and 7 show another way.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a section of a double-length composite hollow mouthpiece;

FIGURE 2 is a section of a multiple-length rod com prising double-length outer stubs spaced apart and enclosed in a stiff paper tube having single-length outer stubs at its ends;

FIGURE 3 is a section of -a multiple-length rod to be cut to produce double-length inner stubs, said rod normally comprising a thin paper wrapper;

FIGURE 4 is a section of a multiple-length composite hollow mouthpiece rod ready for feeding to an assembling machine of any kind;

FIGURE 5 is a section showing a double-length composite hollow mouthpiece of a kind shown in FIGURE 1 between two single-length pieces of cigarette rod and united thereto by a wrapper such as a cork tip;

FIGURE 6 shows a number of double-length inner and outer stubs joined in abutting relationship and enclosed in a thin paper tube to form a rod; and

FIGURE 7 shows a number of pieces cut from the rod of FIGURE 6 and spaced apart in a tube of stilt paper.

Referring first to FIGURES l to 5, the views are substantially to scale and considering FIGURE -1 it will be understood that it would be virtually impossible to handle the various short stubs shown in an automatic machine and that to produce an article of the kind shown special methods are necessary. In the FIGURE 1 is a tube formed of stiff paper and 2 are single-length stubs which, as may be seen from FIGURE 5, will constitute outer stubs in the finished mouthpiece cigarette. 3 are singlelength stubs which will constitute inner stubs in the finished mouthpiece cigarette. After assembly with pieces of cigarette rod, as related later, the component of FIG- URE 1 is bisected on the broken line AA.

While the component shown in FIGURE 1 is almost long enough for satisfactory feeding from a hopper, or

like device, it is preferable for a number of reasons to use a multiple-length as shown in FIGURE 4 and cut it into pieces, like FIGURE 1, as it passes from the hopper to the assembly position and the production of such a multiple-length which is effected in several stages will now be described with reference to FIGURES 2 to 4.

Referring first to FIGURE 2 double-length outer stubs 22 are arranged as shown and spaced apart by twice the distance by which the paper tube is to extend beyond the outer end of the outer stub in the finished cigarette. The spaced stubs are enclosed in a stiff paper tube 1.

Normally such an article will be made by a continuous rod process and the rod is cut on the lines BB to produce the multiple-length. This length is sub-divided at any convenient stage in the manufacture by bisecting each double-length stub 22 on the lines CC to produce double-length hollow mouthpieces.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 a multiple-length of inner stub material is shown, normally produced by a continuous rod process and provided with an outer wrapper 4 of thin paper. The continuous rod is severed on the lines DD and the length is sub-divided at any convenient stage in the manufacture on the lines E-E to produce double-length inner stubs, 33, FIGURE 4.

Usually multiple-lengths as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 will be fed from hoppers to a machine for making the composite rod shown in FIGURE 4 and the sub-division is then done in transit.

In FIGURE 4 single-length stubs bear the same reference as in FIGURE 1 while double-length inner stubs bear the same references 33. It will be seen that doublelength inner stubs 33 are placed in abutting relationship with the stubs 2 of the double-length hollow mouthpiece and the parts are joined by an outer wrapper 5 of thin paper. As the composite rod shown will be most usually made by a continuous rod process, the continuous rod will be cut on the lines F-F to produce the multiple length. Thus the cutting operation will bisect doublelength inner stubs to produce the single-length inner stubs 3 at the end of the multiple-length.

This multiple-length is subdivided, for example in feeding from a hopper to an assembly device, the length being cut on the lines G-G to produce three items like that shown in FIGURE 1 and each such item is placed between two pieces of cigarette rod 6, FIGURE 5, and the parts joined by a short wrapper 7, usually a cork tip, whereafter the product is bisected on line AA and two composite hollow mouthpiece cigarettes are produced.

This method of assembly is the normal modern method but continuous rod assembly is obvious from the figure, simply requiring double-length cigarette rods which are subsequently bisected, and if it is desired to make a short rod several times the length of that shown in FIGURE 5 double-length cigarette rods may be employed for the inner cigarettes and bisected after assembly.

Another method of making the mouthpiece is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

In FIGURE 6 double-length inner stubs 33 and doublelength outer stubs 22 are assembled in abutting relationship and joined to form a rod, as by wrapping the assembly in a thin paper wrapper 25. The rod, which may be a continuous rod, is cut on the lines I, FIGURE 6, to produce items consisting of a double-length inner stub with a single-length outer stub at each end. These items are then enclosed in a tube 11, FIGURE 7, of stiff paper with spaces as before and cut, at some suitable stage, on the lines L to produce the articles shown in FIGURE 1. The thin paper wrapper 25 is not shown in FIGURE 7 but its presence is obvious from FIGURE 6. This method requires more stiff paper than the one first described and this may be commercially undesirable.

While mouthpieces containing only two stubs have been described the extension to three stub mouthpieces can 5 be made from a study of the specification. Three stubs are probably the maximum ever likely to be used.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A method of making a double-length composite hollow mouthpiece comprising the steps of (1) enclosing separate groups of abutting components of mouthpiece material within a paper tube to form a rod, each group containing at least three components and containing only an odd number of components, one of said components in each group being located midway between the two endmost components of the group and constituting the center component of the group, each group being separated from the next adjacent group by a hollow space, and the components immediately adjacent the hollow spaces being of the same kind of mouthpiece material, and (2) dividing the rod so formed by cutting through only the center component of each group to form double-length composite hollow mouthpieces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,156,600 Molins May 2, 1939 2,188,998 Edwards Feb. 6, 1940 2,820,460 Bunzl Jan. 21, 1958 2,882,970 Schur Apr. 21, 1959 2,916,039 Muller Dec. 8, 1959 2,920,631 Korber Jan. 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 785,910 Great Britain Nov. 6, 1957 336,306 Switzerland Mar. 31, 1959 

